A step backwards after Surfer Girl unsurprisingly considering how quickly the band were forced to release this. Lyrically the album doesn't hold up too well but Custom Machine and No Go Showboat are both nice up-tempo numbers and the harmonies on Ballad of Ole' Betsy are exquisite.

Little Deuce Coupe may pale in comparison to other albums from this period, but considering it was released three weeks after Surfer Girl i think it's 'failures' can easily be forgiven, no? Judge it by the new songs only and you've got yourself a pretty decent (mini-)album. Old Betsy and Spirtit of America are beautifully sung, particuarly the latter which features a tremendous early Brian lead. Cherry Cherry Coupe is simplistic but very catchy, while No-Go Showboat and Custom Machine are genuinely great songs - Brian's songwriting and production skills are all very apparent on these two songs! They're both so intricate and tightly arranged, far more elaborate than they perhaps appear on the surface.

With the exception of the title track and a couple of others, this doesn't have much I like. Inessential or worse, in my estimation, and if not for the fact that it came on the twofer with the great All Summer Long, I likely would have sold my copy.

Finally sat down and listened all the way through several times. Luther's comments sum up my thoughts, although I would never sell a BB cd!! All summer long blows this out of the water.

the album perhaps deserved to be docked for the five repeats, but 6 of the 7 other songs I think are GREAT. Don't get the 'utter throwaway' judgment. Yeah, it would have made a better 8 song EP, perhaps....but those songs are great.

The new songs for this album are great. However, while the repeats are good, it's no fun hearing the same songs two albums in a row. Still a pretty strong album from the group. This is where they began to cut back on the instrumentals (A plus, indeed).

Logged

"I've never written one note or word of music simply because I think it will make money"- Brian Wilson (1965)

I really love the "Little Deuce Coupe" album, and give it a strong 4/5. It's a pure car-themed album with some really solid songs. My favourites on the album, other than the hit singles are "Custom Machine", "No-Go Showboat" and "Cherry, Cherry Coupe".

Our Car Club rules! Now, my turn for asking - what would you replace the repeat tracks with on LDC?

Not sure. Were there any other tracks available at the time or songs Brian wrote for other artists that were considered for the Beach Boys? "Surf City" comes to mind, but I'm not sure if Brian ever intended that for the Boys.

Id give it 3/5 because it has to many repeats .. Beyond that I think the new songs are good to very good.. Cover art does nothing for me..Lots of hot rod lp"s back then + they all looked like this one.. This Lp is a holding pattern .. When this was released single version BTTYS + LSN came out Fall // Winter 63

Judged on its own terms, LITTLE DEUCE COUPE is a fine record and also rock's first concept album. The album covers the full emotional range of automotive life, from cocky celebrations to mournful odes. Yes, there are reissued cuts but the Stones pulled a near classic when they did the same with FLOWERS and Brian makes it happen on LITTLE DEUCE COUPE. This is classic Americana. Those who bash this record are being...Beach Boys snobs!

Judged on its own terms, LITTLE DEUCE COUPE is a fine record and also rock's first concept album. The album covers the full emotional range of automotive life, from cocky celebrations to mournful odes. Yes, there are reissued cuts but the Stones pulled a near classic when they did the same with FLOWERS and Brian makes it happen on LITTLE DEUCE COUPE. This is classic Americana. Those who bash this record are being...Beach Boys snobs!

****

But Flowers is actually a compilation, while LDC is a official studio album.When compared to most of the 60's album, this album falls far short.

Didn't FLOWERS contain several cuts that were unique to that album? I find it more enjoyable than BETWEEN THE BUTTONS. Look it this way: Some kid in the 60's could have owned LITTLE DEUCE COUPE or FLOWERS as his/her only Beach Boys or Stones LP and been none the poorer for the reissued cuts. Once knew a guy who claimed FLOWERS rated second to only to EXILE among Stones platters. Of course, he was high at the time, but to each his own.

Of the early Surf n' Turf albums, I always thought of Surfer Girl as their best. But lately I feel like Little Deuce Coupe is better in many regards. It's the first album where I feel like Brian Wilson's production becomes another member of the band, so-to-speak. Just like Surfer Girl, the whole album is good, but the production is a show-stopper. It feels tighter. Shinier. Bigger, yes, but not bloated.

I think the production is actually a sweet spot for the band and it perfectly fits the car metaphors. Fast, tight, lean and mean. Not too crowded, and no longer surf-band garage-y. There's something going on here with this Brian Wilson guy that probably raised a few eyebrows by now. He knows what he's doin'. It ain't a fluke.

Surfer Girl was, if not a transition from their first two loose, early surf band albums, it was definitely an awakening. A culmination of their early work. But it's on Little Deuce Coupe where he goes beyond. It's now all polished up and perfected -- even though a few tracks date from those earlier efforts, yes --but because of that, it's the new stuff -- the "filler" -- that Brian's focusing on. It's the secret to this album's appeal. The filler, is no longer throw-away. It fills in the gaps perfectly -- like the mortar between the bricks. It holds it all together.

After this, on Shut Down Volume II, the production starts to feel extremely dense (and a little scary at times!). You can tell there was a lot of work and effort on their construction -- a lot of experimentation. But on Deuce Coupe it doesn't sound like he's searching at all -- it sounds solid, focused and sure of itself -- like Brian knew exactly what he wanted. It just sounds all too easy. And as a result, I seem to reach for Deuce Coupe more than any of their early fun-in-the-sun albums. This is the "good old days." Perfect Beach Boys.

I feel like he could have made a dozen albums like this. Without burning himself out. But he wasn't settling or resting. On the next album, he starts building the layered sonic palette he became famous for -- a dense wall of sound, behind a barrage of vocals. I always felt those massive details must have been lost on most AM radio fans. Plus, it sounds like a lot of work -- which could have worn him out. It's probably the reason we have the MAJOR gaps between the filler and the killer material on the next few albums. He put too much pressure on himself.

Nevertheless... on Little Deuce Coupe, we get to enjoy the simple days, one last time. 5 stars.

To me, the Beach Boys' car songs are more dated and shallow than anything else they did (except, I guess, their surf songs). So I really don't like 11 of the 12 songs on this album.

But No-Go Showboat is absolute magic. Nothing else sounds like it, and I'm not sure how anything else could. You almost have to wonder if No-Go Showboat was the real product of Brian's first acid trip.

Judged on its own terms, LITTLE DEUCE COUPE is a fine record and also rock's first concept album. The album covers the full emotional range of automotive life, from cocky celebrations to mournful odes. Yes, there are reissued cuts but the Stones pulled a near classic when they did the same with FLOWERS and Brian makes it happen on LITTLE DEUCE COUPE. This is classic Americana. Those who bash this record are being...Beach Boys snobs!

****

Wow. I'm so in love with your comment.

I also think that the album must be considered as a work on its own, not minding that some of its songs were on previous albums. I gave it 4/5, because I love the energy in it. The guys really seem in control and focused. You know what, maybe if I could vote again I'd give it a five - It's one of the albums that I listen to the most.